Club World Cup remains a long way from establishing credibility

Fifa may claim the Club World Cup is a growing force but Manchester United remain the star attraction for Japanese fans

Over 67,000 fans turned out for Manchester United's opening Club World Cup match against Gamba Osaka in Yokohama but questions remain over how seriously European sides take the tournament. Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters

Finally, the Club World Cup took on a more serious air inside the International Stadium in Yokohama yesterday (my passport said Andrew and the accreditation form said Andy — a lengthy debate had ensued). And it wasn't as a result of Fifa strapping the cynics to a chair and telling them it had to. There on the media centre television screens appeared the pained expression of Manuel Jose, the coach of Egyptian side Al Ahly, who was not so much holding court in a press conference next door as undergoing an interrogation. The champions of Africa had lost to Adelaide United in the fifth-place play-off match to exit in disgrace a tournament that they had entered with genuine hope.

His team beaten by Pachuca of Mexico and then the Australians, Manuel Jose was asked by an affronted Egyptian journalist how it felt to betray the expectations of an entire continent. This was Al Ahly's third disappointment in Fifa's showpiece club event and the tone of the questioning suggested Jose should pay with his job at the club named "the best in the 20th century" by the Confederation of African Football.

Outside, 67,618 supporters had gathered for the main event between Gamba Osaka and Manchester United, having paid the equivalent of between £50 and £100 for the privilege. A goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney's cameo in the 5–3 semi-final win ensured there were no complaints from a compliant audience, whose size certainly enhances Fifa's claims of grandeur for its tournament. Fans have been assembling outside United's team hotel at 5am each morning, while Sir Alex Ferguson and Darren Fletcher were driven 500 yards to a press conference rather than allowed to risk an adoring mob at the door. Pauline Prescott's hair problems seem tame in comparison.

All of which supports Fifa's contention that the Club World Cup is a growing force to be reckoned with (although Japanese supporters would converge on the United secretary at the opening of a club-sponsored envelope) and exposes the apathy of a Champions League-dominated Europe towards it. The event moves from Japan for two seasons next year and Fifa did not choose the United Arab Emirates by blindly sticking a pin in a map.

Ferguson will not have to defend his credentials should United lose to Liga de Quito on Sunday, nor would any other European manager without his extensive record. Immense pride will be felt by the victor and rightly so; but it was in extolling the virtues of the Club World Cup that the United chief executive, David Gill, exposed how far Fifa has to go. "Who is to say what this tournament will look like in 40 years?" he asked. "You have to start somewhere."